Murdo MacLeod (abt. 1332 - aft. 1363)

Born about 1332 in Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 1363 after about age 31 in Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bonnie Saunders [send private message]

Biography

Murdo MacLeod I of Gesto was born around 1332 in Scotland. His death has been estimated @ after 1363, based on his son Norman MacLeod II of Gesto's (abt 1364-aft 1397) birth around 1364. As indicated above, his father was Malcolm Gillecaluim MACLEOD (III Chief of the MacLeods of Harris). The "MacLeod's of Gesto" source states that Malcolm was married to a daughter of Sir Neil Campbell of Loch Awe, who was probably Murdo's mother and to Martha, daughter of Donald, Earl of Mar. ^[1] Malcolm's profile in Wikitree, also shows two wives, "Unknown" Campbell (same as the previous source) and Alyse Crawford (different from the previous source), but marriage dates are unknown in both sources, ie., neither one of these women can be readily assumed to be Murdo's mother.

Murdo's father Malcolm had at least five children. Apart from the four sons mentioned above, he also had a daugher: ^[1]

1. John, "Iain Cair" (abt 1330-abt 1392), his heir
2. Tormod MacLeod
3. Murdo MacLeod I of Gesto (abt 1332-aft 1363)
4. Malcolm Og MacLeod
5. Fingula (or_Flora) MacLeod

As stated previously, Murdo had at least one child, Norman MacLeod II of Gesto (around 1364-aft 1397), a renowned warrior, also known as "Tarmad Caol" or "Norman, the Slender". His wife's name is not known. ^[1]

Research Notes

Regarding Sources

08 Sept 2016: the source used in 2015 for the MacLeod family, "Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, Genealogical Resource Centre Indexed Data", ^[2] no longer exists. Much of the same information is reproduced at "MacLeods of Gesto" ^[1] and has been used to replace the former source whenever possible.

01 Apr 2018: unfortunately, the source cited above, used in 2016 for the MacLeod family, "Macleods of Gesto" at linneberg.com, is no longer working. The citations will be replaced/removed as updated information is located.

History of the Denomination "of Gesto"

It should be noted that the denomination "of Gesto" found in fifteen MacLeod family members' names comes after the death of Malcolm MacLeod (Scottish Gaelic: Gille Caluim MacLeòid) (in Wiki, 1296–1370; in WikiTree, 1260-1340) who is considered to be the third chief of Clan MacLeod. ^[3] He was the son of Tormod (Norman), Tormod MacLeod (1235-1320), the second chief of Clan MacLeod, who in turn was the son of Leod, Leod (1200-1280), the traditional founder and eponymous ancestor of Clan MacLeod. The "Bannatyne manuscript" is a history of Clan MacLeod, dating from the early 19th century, and is the main authority for the information on the early chiefs of Clan MacLeod. ^[4] The manuscript states that Malcolm had four sons, John, "Iain Cair" (abt 1330-abt 1392) his heir, as well as Tormod, Murdo MacLeod I of Gesto (abt 1332-aft 1363) and Malcolm Og. Tormod, the second son, lived on Bernera, Harris. His descendants lived there until the time of Sir Rory Mor (Sir Roderick MacLeod of Macleod, 15th Chief of Clan MacLeod) ^[5] (in Wikipedia, 1573-1626; in WikiTree, 1562-1626) and later lived on Pabbay, Harris, calling themselves "Clan Vic Gillecallam cas Reamhar Vic Leod". The fourth son of Malcolm, Malcolm Og, married a daughter of MacDuffie of Colonsay and settled in Argyll. Malcolm's third son, Murdo, was left the lands of Glenelg; his descendants held onto these lands for several generations and were known as the MacLeods of Gesto. The head of the Gesto branch was always called "Mac Vic Tormod" (or "Mac Mhic Thormoid").

The last MacLeod to live in Gesto was Neil MacLeod XV of Gesto (1754-1836). In 1792 he was given a new lease for 19 years. At some point he filed a lawsuit about boundaries against the Chief of the MacLeod Clan, MacLeod of MacLeod, and though he actually won the case, he was given notice to quit when his lease expired in 1825. He then rented a house in Waternish for his family and himself. Neil died in 1836, ^[1] and was succeeded as Head of the House by his son Kenneth MacLeod (1809-1869), ^[6] who in turn was succeeded by his nephew (his brother Donald's son), Neil Kenneth Macleod (1826-1916), who died in Canada and was buried in Scotland in 1916. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} _ URL NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE The MacLeods of Gesto from linneberg.com
2. ↑ _ URL NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, Genealogical Resource Centre Indexed Data
3. ↑ _ Malcolm MacLeod, 3rd Chief of Clan MacLeod
4. ↑ _ Tormond (Norman) MacLeod, 2nd Chief of Clan MacLeod
5. ↑ _ Roderick MacLeod of MacLeod, 15th Chief of Clan MacLeod
6. ↑ _ History of the MacLeods by Alexander Mackenzie, (218) page 198: Kenneth MacLeod (1809-1869)
7. ↑ _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: Neil Kenneth MacLeod (1826-1916)

Find a Grave Entries in this Biography

N O N E